How to encourage mothers to re-enter science?

Actively pushing the message out. I’d be interested in something like that but I wouldn’t have known about it without seeing it here. Trying to get the university to pay for social media adverts?

I second this! Advertising and promotion is key.

I did my PhD while my son was 4 years old. Applying didn’t put me off. But once I started I found it hard as the stripend was based on a single person not a family. I was also not allowed to do any paid work as part of my contract so paying for childcare was impossible. So perhaps having extra help for childcare. Also, teaching staff and supervisors to be understanding. I was made to feel inadequate for having to leave at 5pm to pick my son up. It was very difficult and could have done with more support.

Hi @Daphne! Is the application window still open? If so, I’d love to learn more.

I had to quit my PhD because my stipend was not taxable income and therefore I was I eligible for government funded childcare hours. Students are an overlooked demographic when it comes to childcare and parental leave unfortunately. As others have said, if the university offered free / heavily subsidised places in their nursery then that could be a game changer… maybe. I think you’d need a good marketing campaign too. A lot of the time people just don’t know about these things!

This sounds great! I want to start my PhD (degree in forensic science) but childcare and funding is the issue